How To Easily Root The Galaxy S3

One of the reasons that people prefer Android over iOS, or even Windows Phone is that it is ‘open’. It is, to an extent, but to really push the device, you do need to root your Android smartphone. Fortunately, rooting Samsung devices has been fairly easy in the past, and that’s thanks to XDA’s Chainfire. He has released CF-Root for a number of Samsung devices, and the best part about his method is that it keeps the device as close to stock configuration as possible, while giving you superuser status.

So your Samung Galaxy S3 will look as behave in the same manner as before, because CF-Root is not a complete ROM. It just installs SuperSU for allowing applications root access, a recovery manager in ClockWorkMod and a utility called CWM Manager. As Chainfire explains:

Recovery – ClockWorkMod (CWM) – A custom CWM 5.5 build is included in CF-Root, taken from this thread. This provides for the ability to install custom ROMs, and do nandroid (full device) backups and restores.

Util – CWM Manager – My management application for CWM is also installed, see the recovery thread linked above for further details. It allows you to command CWM (install a ROM, make/restore backups, etc) from normally booted Android.

Beware that rooting your device may void your warranty, and once rooted your phone will display a yellow triangle during bootup that signifies your use of an insecure kernel. If you’re ready to root your Galaxy S3, here are the steps as explained by Chainfire himself:

– Follow these instructions to the letter. Do not touch any buttons or checkboxes that are not listed below to touch.
– Unzip the Odin3-vX.X.zip file (Get it from this thread).
– Download and unzip the CF-Root-SGS3-vX.X.zip file (Get it from this thread).
– If you end up with a recovery.img and cache.img file, you’ve extracted twice. You need to end up with a .tar file – don’t extract that one.
– (USB) Disconnect your phone from your computer.
– Start Odin3-vX.X.exe.
– Click the PDA button, and select CF-Root-SGS3-vX.X.tar.
– Put your phone in download mode (turn off phone, then hold volume-down + home + power to boot – if it asks you to press a button to continue, press the listed button, or run adb reboot download command).
– (USB) Connect the phone to your computer.
– Make sure Repartition is NOT checked.
– Click the Start button.
– Wait for Android to boot.
– Done (if it took you more than 30 seconds, you need practise!)

CF-Root is the easiest way to root your device, and in this XDA-Developers thread you’ll find extensive guidance. If you are new to rooting Samsung devices, then you can also familiarise yourself with Mobile Odin, and Triangle Away. The first lets you perform most actions that you can undertake using Odin on the PC, without needing the PC. The second, removes the pesky triangle that demonstrates that you are using an insecure kernel.

Note: The image is only a representation of how Odin looks on the PC, while performing the actual flash strictly follow the instructions listed. Image credit. Undertake at your own risk.